Fuel feeding and mixing device for gas-engines



W. SHURTLEl-F. FUEL FEEDING AND MIXING DEVICE FOR GAS ENGINES.

-- APPLICAHQH FILED MAR. 16, 1917.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

- INVENTORF 5 ATTORNEY w. SHURT LEFF.

FUEL FEEDING AND MIXING DEVICE FOR GAS ENGINES.

v APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16. I9l7.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IN V EN TOR.

. 0 ATTORNEY WILFRED SHURTLEFF, F MOLINE, ILLINOI S.

FUELIEEDING Ann MIXING DEVICE FOR GAS-ENGINES; Y

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

Application filed-March 16,1917. Serial No. 155,305.

To all whom it may 0 120cm:

Be it known that WILFRED Srrtrnrwrr,

. a citizen of the. United States, and a residenlt of Moline,. in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F uel-F eeding and Mixing-Devices for Gas- I Engines, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to fuel feeding and mixing devices for gas engines, particularly to that class in which a fuel mixer or carbureter is connected with a float chamber to receive fluid therefrom and in which the suction caused by the flow of the fuel mixture through the mixin chamber serves to draw fresh supplies 0 fluid to the float chamber from a supply tank situated below such chamber, the float operating to control the flow of oil into the float chamber.

'Heretofore, in devices of this class, the

float was utilized to actuate oil valves which directly control the flow of oil to the float chamber.

One of the important objects of my invention is to eliminate such oil flow valves and to control the level of the oil in the float chamber by having the float automatically control the inflow of air to the mixing chamher by actuating suitable throttle' valves."

Another object of my invention is to provide such construction, arrangement and operation as will automatically reduce the suction or drawingelfect of the carbureter on the float chamber-t0 the smallest amount necessary to lift the fluid from the supply tank thereby increasingthe maximum power of the engine and making the device particularly eflicient on low lifts. Another object of the invention is to utilize the ex haust pressure from the engine cylinders.

by projecting a hot blast of exhaust gases through the carbureter mixing chamber and to cause such blast to entrain with it proper quantities of fluid from the float chamber.

The above and other features of my invention are embodied in the devices shown on the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a vertical diametral section of a fuel feeding and mixing device,-

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on plane 2--2, Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a more or less diagrammatical view showing an improved construction and arrangement for a feeding and mixing de V103 and connection thereof with the engine, an

Fig. 4 lS j). vertical diam'etral sectional view of the feeding and mixing device shown in 3.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 a cylindrical cup-shaped casting '10 forms a receptacle for fuel and a chamber for .the float.

11.- At one side near the top ofthe receptacle is the threaded lug 12 for receiving the fitting'13 to which is connected the pipe 14 leading from a fluid supply tank situated below the receptacle 10. Closing the top of the cylindrical container 10 is the cover 15 which has the hous ing 16 extending diametrally thereon to form theair intake passageway 17 to the carbureter or mixing chamber frame 18 extending vertically at one side of the container 10. This frame and the housing 16 and the cover 15 may be part of an integral casting. The frame 18 forms the generally cylindrical mixing chamber '19 in whose upper end is pivoted a butterfly valve 20 of ordinary design. In the mixing chamber below the valve a Venturi tube 21 is secured by a screw 22, the adjacent walls of the housing 16 and frame 18 being contracted to form a throat 23 connecting with the passageway 24 leading to the lower end of the Venturi tube. Extending laterally from the container 10 below the carbureter frame is the tube 25 from which the nozzle 26 extends upwardly through the base of the frame 18 and into the lower end of the Venturi tube, the fluid flowing from the float chamber into the tube 25 and the nozzle to be drawn into the carbureter mixing chamher and mixed with air preparatory to passage of the mixture to the engine.

In order to obtain the ,most efficient results, the fuel should be maintained as accurately as possible at a constant level in the float chamber and in the nozzle, and as soon as fluid is withdrawn from the float chamber additional fluid should be drawn into the chamber from, the supply tank through pipe 14. Passage of the mixture from the carbureter mixing chamber to the en ine causes suction effect which draws fluid from the'nozzle and which also draws air into the mixing chamber through the air intake passageway 17, and I utilize art of the suction effect to draw in fresh fluid supplies into the float chamber. In the cover transmitted to the float chamber, that is, thesuction which tends to draw air into the mixing chamber through the intake passageway 17 tends also to draw air out of the float chamber, this resulting in flow of oil into the float-chamber. One of the important features of m invention is the control of such fluid in ow by the control of air flow through intake 17 ,by the float. Interposed in the air intake is the loop 28 whose upper and lower walls 29 and 39 have the ports 31 and, 32 respectively. The stem 33 supported by the float 11 extends through the suction hole 29 and through the ports 32 and 31 and carries the valve disks 34 and 35 above the walls 29 and 30 for controlling respectively the ports 31- and 32 as the float rises and falls. At its upper end the float is guided by its end 36 whichextends through the guide hole 37 in the housing 16, and at its lower end the stem is guided in the cup 38 screwed into the base" normal position, the fluid bein at, the level which should give the most efficient results. As soon as the fluid level drops the valves will decrease the passageway through the ports and a greater percenta e of the suction force in the mixing cham er is effective ther the-port passageways, and the suction effect in the float'chamber is gradually .di-

,minished until the normal level is again attained. Should there be an excess flow of fuel into the float chamber, the valves will be ralsed to permit a greater quantity of air to flow through the air ports 31 and 32 and the suction effect in the float chamber will be correspondingly reduced or will be destroyed so that there will be no influx of fuel until the normal level is restored. If the level is so low that the valves are entirely closed, then the suction effect in the mixing chamber is all effective in the float chamber and fresh supply of fluid isquickly drawn into the float chamber to restore the level. If the float chamber is entirely empty, then suction effect is communicated to the float chamber through the nozzle 26 and tube 25 as well as through the hole 27 and the fluid level is quickly brought to normal. Thus the float shifts with the varying oil level and by its valves controls carbureter mixing chamber.

and adjusts the .air inflow to the carbureter and such flow adjustment automatically controls the degree of suction in the float chamber which draws fluid into thefloat chamber, the operation and cooperation being such as will tend to maintain the normal level which will insure the most eflicient operation ofthe device in supplying combu'stible mixture to the engine. .It will be noted that in my improved arrangement there are no fluid valves of any kind, but that the fluid is free, at all times to flov; from themain reservoir to the float cham ber and from the float chamber to the carbureter mixing chamber. Different valve construction and arrangement could be used for controlling the air intake-with the carbureter, but by using the two valve disks as shown the entire valve structure is balanced. With my improved construction and arrangement the amount of suction necessary to lift fluid into the float chamber is reduced to a minimum, and this increases the maximum power of the engine which is supplied by the device, and the operation of the device is particularly efficient on low lifts.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown a modified construction and arrangement in'which the exhaust pressure-from the engine is utilized in the form of a hot blast projected into the In other respects the operation is the same as in the structure of Figs. 1 and 2. Referring to Fig. 4, the float chamber 40 is connected by pipe 41 with the supply tank, the fluid passing from the float chamber through the tubular extension 42 into a well formed at the bottom of the mixing chamber frame 43 whose outlet is controlled by the valve 44 )rovided with the throttle lever 45-controllable from a distance. Projecting into the bottom of the frame 43 in line with the tube 42 is a blast nozzle 46 which is connected by a pipe 47 with the'exhaust manifold a of an engine represented by e'. As only a part of the exhaust pressure is necessary for sufficient blast effect, the end of the pipe may r0 But 48 flared to an inlet area which will draw from the exhaust manifold a suflicient amount of flow to get the necessary blast.

ect into the exhaust manifold with its 4.9 provided in the plug or bushing 50 inserted in the tube 42, this orifice preventing sudden rushes of the fluid and causing itto flow more gradually.

Above the'float chamber is the air intake 51 through which air is drawn into the mixing chamber in frame 43 to mix with the atomized fluid, and in the top of the float chamber is the hole 52 through which the suction effect can be transmitted to the float cham-' when the float rises and falls the valve will be moved toward open or closedposition in the air intake. The principle of control is: the same as in. the arrangements of Figs. 1

and 2. When the fluid level in the float chamber drops the valve 53 will be moved toward closed positionso that less air can flow through the intake, and a greater percentageof the suction effect can become effective in the float chamber to .draw in a fresh supply offluid. When the level rises the valve is opened farther and the suction effect in the float chamber is reduced, the

float controlledfby the fluid level thus controlling the air flow through the intake and the degree of suction effect in the float chamber and. the replenishment of fluid so that the .tendency is to automatically maintainfth'efluid level at a point where fluid will .be most efficiently fed to the nozzle 46 to be acted on by the hot blast.

e I thus provide a simple and very eflicient fuel'feeding and mixing device in which the fuel level in {the .float chamber and the proper proportioning of fluidand air in the mixing chamber" are automatically controlled by the movement of simple air valve mechanism bythe float.

I do-not desiregto-be limited to the exact construction, arrangements and operations described as changes and modifications are no doubt possible which would still fall within the scopeo-f the invention. I claim as follows: i

" 1.- In a device of the class described, the

combination of a fuel reservoir having a fuel inlet at its upper end adapted for connection with. a {fuelsupply .tank below the reservolr, a mixing. chamber, a fuel outlet from said reservoir to the lower end of. said mixing chamber, an opening connecting said mixln'g chamber'wlth said reservo1r above the level of fuel therein, an air intake passageway to the'mixing chamber, means for causing the flow of'fuel-and air into and through saidinixingchamber whereby to create suction efl'ect'in said air intake passageway and reservoir,v and means controlled bythe level of fuel in said reservoir for adjusting the area ofssaid air intake passageway whereby to control of the suction effect in said reservoir and thereby to control the inflow of fuel and the level thereof in said reservoir.

2. In a device of" the class described, the

combination of a fuel reservoir having an inlet at its upper end for connection with a fuel supply tank placed below the reservoir,

,a mixing chamber connected at its lower end in-said air intake pasa geway connected with said float to be shifted thereby in corre spondence with the varying level of fuel in said reservoir to increase the opening or closure of said air intake passageway to thereby correspondingly decrease an increase the suction effect in said reservoir whereby the inflow of fuel and the level thereof in the reservoir is controlled.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a fuel reservoir, having an inlet at its upper end adapted for connection with the fuel supply tank placed below the; reservoir, a mixing chamber above the level of the fuel in the reservoir, an openingconnecting the mixing chamber with the way, a float in said reservoir connected wi h. 7

said valve and actuated by the varying fuel level in said reservoir to operate said valve to increase or decrease 'the area of said air passageway. with reference to said opening between the reservoir and mixing chamber whereby-suction effect in said mixing chamber will be communicated in varying degree to said reservoir and the inflow of fuel and the level thereof in the reservoir controlled.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a fuel reservoir havin a fuel inlet adapted for connection with a uel supply source-below the reservoir, a mixing chamber adapted byits connection with an engine to have suction effect created therein, a fuel inlet'from the reservoir to. said chamber, an opening between the upper part of said reservoir and said mixing chamber, whereby said reservoir is subjected to suetion in said mixing chamber, an air intake passageway to the mixing chamber, and means controlled by the level of fuel in said reservoir for regulating the amount of air flow through said air intake passageway to thereby regulate the suction effected in said reservoirthrough said opening thereby controlling thejinflow of fuel and the level thereof. in said reservoir.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a fuel reservoir having a fuel inlet at its upper end adapted for con-' 'voir connected with said valve mechanism to operate sa1d valve mechanlsm 1n accordance with the varying fuel level and to correspondingly control the air flow.

6. Ina device of the class described, thecombination of afuel reservoir having a fuel inlet at its upper end adapted for con-' motion with a fuel source below the reservoir, a mixing chamber having a fuel inlet thereto from said reservoir, an opening connecting the air spaceof said reservoir with.

said mixing chamber, a passageway for connecting atmosphere with said mixing chamber, means controlled by the level of fuel in said reservoir for automatically adjusting the air passageway relative to said opening whereby to control the degree of suction effect communicated from the mixing chamber to said reservoir thereby to control the inflow of fuel and the level thereof in said reservoir.

7. In combination with a gas engine, of a fuel feeding and mixing device comprising a fuel reservoir having a fuel inlet at its upper end adapted for connection with a fuel source below the reservoir, a mixing chamber connected at its upper end-with the intake manifold of the engine whereby suction will be produced in the mixing chamber during operation of the engine, a fuel outlet from sa1d reservoir to the bottom of said vary the degree of suction effect in said res-' ervolr.

8, The combination with a-gas engine, of a fuel feeding and mixing device comprising a fuel reservoir, a mixing chamber connected' at its upper end with theintake manifold of the engine and provided at its lower end with a well communicating with said reservoir, a nozzle extending into said well,

its outlet'terminating below the fuel level therein, and a pipe connecting said'nozzle with the exhaust manifold of the engine.

9; The combination with a gas engine, of a fuel carbureting device comprising a mixing chamber connected at its upper end with the intake manifold of the engine, and provided in the lower part thereof with a well,

-means for supplying fuel to said well, a

nozzle extending into said well and having its outlet below the level of and'overflowed by the fuel therein, said nozzle being connected with the exhaust. manifold of the en ine.

n witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 10th da of March, A; D1917.

WILFR D SHURTLEFF. 

